Double-sided belt buckle

ABSTRACT

The double-sided belt buckle includes a chape member, a frame, a prong, and a loop element. The chape member includes a hinge element, a first side, and a second side. The hinge element and the frame are pivotally joined together. The loop element is selectively joined to the first side or the second side of the chape member perpendicular to the hinge element. The frame has two neighboring notches along a front section of the frame, respectively corresponding to the first and second sides. The prong is pivotally joined to the frame for running through a hole along another end of the strap. As such, the prong is detachable and the loop element may be fitted on the first side or the second side, so that both sides of the belt buckle may be the outward facing side, thereby enhancing the life and flexibility of the belt buckle.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION (a) Technical Field of the Invention

The present invention is generally related to belt buckles, and more particular to a double-sided belt buckle.

(b) Description of the Prior Art

A conventional belt buckle mainly includes a chape member, a frame, and a prong. The chape member usually has a rectangular shape, and the prong has an end joined to a bar of the chape member and the other end of the prong is perpendicularly extended away from the bar. The bar of the chape member is fixed to the frame. An end of a belt is secured to the chape member. The other end of the belt runs through the frame and the prong fits in one of the holes on the belt, thereby forming an adjustable loop from the belt fastened around a user's waist.

The belt buckle usually has decoration on an outward facing side of the belt buckle. After a period of use, the appearance of this side of the belt buckle deteriorates from constant wear. Therefore, if a belt buckle may be used with either side facing outward, the life of the belt may be extended significantly and the belt is more economical.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An objective of the present invention is to provide a double-sided belt buckle so as to obviate the shortcoming of a conventional belt buckle.

To achieve the objective, the double-sided belt buckle is connected to an end of a strap of a belt, and includes a chape member, a frame, a prong, and a loop element.

The chape member includes a hinge element, a first side, and a second side. The hinge element and the frame are pivotally joined together. The loop element is selectively joined to the first side or the second side of the chape member perpendicular to the hinge element.

The frame has two neighboring notches along a front section of the frame, respectively corresponding to the first and second sides.

The prong is pivotally joined to the frame for running through a hole along another end of the strap.

In an embodiment, the chape member has a cubical shape.

In an embodiment, the frame includes a linear section and a C section, whose two ends are respectively joined to the linear section's the two ends, thereby forming a closed shape. The linear section is housed inside the hinge element. The hinge element has an opening in a middle section of the hinge element. An end of the prong is connected to the linear section through the opening.

In an embodiment, the prong includes a hinge end and a free end, where the hinge end is pivotally joined to the linear section, and the free end is for embedment into one of the notches after the prong runs through a hole of the strap.

In an embodiment, the chape member includes two symmetrical pieces flatly joined together.

In an embodiment, two slots are symmetrically configured along an inner wall of the loop element, one along an upper lateral section of the inner wall and another is at a lower lateral section of the inner wall.

In an embodiment, the first side and the second side respectively have troughs adjacent to the hinge element, and the loop element is detachably embedded in one of the troughs for maintaining a position of the strap after the strap has run through the loop element.

In an embodiment, the first side and the second side of the chape member respectively have different decorated faces.

In an embodiment, the first side and the second side of the chape member respectively have identical decorated faces.

Through the above described structure, the present invention provides the following advantages.

1. The prong is detachable and the loop element may be fitted on the first side or the second side, so that both sides of the belt buckle may be the outward facing side, thereby lengthening the life of the belt buckle.

2. The first side and the second side of the chape member may be designed to have different colors, styles, or textures to fit a user's variable dressing styles.

3. Even though a side of the double-sided belt buckle is worn, the double-sided belt buckle may be flipped and put to use, which is an economical arrangement.

4. A user may choose a double-sided belt buckle and a strap to fit his/her dressing style without purchasing additional belts, lowering the user's expenses.

5. The double-sided belt buckle is structurally simple and may be manufactured conveniently. The belt buckle may also be assembled manually without tools.

The foregoing objectives and summary provide only a brief introduction to the present invention. To fully appreciate these and other objects of the present invention as well as the invention itself, all of which will become apparent to those skilled in the art, the following detailed description of the invention and the claims should be read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. Throughout the specification and drawings identical reference numerals refer to identical or similar parts.

Many other advantages and features of the present invention will become manifest to those versed in the art upon making reference to the detailed description and the accompanying sheets of drawings in which a preferred structural embodiment incorporating the principles of the present invention is shown by way of illustrative example.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective diagram showing a double-sided belt buckle according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective break-down diagram showing the double-sided belt buckle of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is another perspective break-down diagram showing the double-sided belt buckle of FIG. 1

FIG. 4 shows an application scenario of the double-side belt buckle of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 shows another application scenario of the double-side belt buckle of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The following descriptions are exemplary embodiments only, and are not intended to limit the scope, applicability or configuration of the invention in any way. Rather, the following description provides a convenient illustration for implementing exemplary embodiments of the invention. Various changes to the described embodiments may be made in the function and arrangement of the elements described without departing from the scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

As shown in FIGS. 1 to 5, a double-sided belt buckle according to an embodiment of the present invention mainly includes a chape member 1, a frame 2, a prong 3, and a loop element 4.

As illustrated in FIG. 1 to 3, the frame 2, the prong 3, and the loop element 4 are configured on the chape member 1. In the present embodiment, the chape member 1 has a cubical shape and the chape member 1 includes a hinge element 11, a first side 12, and a second side 13. The hinge element 11 and the frame 2 are pivotally joined together. The loop element 4 is joined to the chape member 1 perpendicular to the hinge element 11. When put to use, a user may choose to have the first side 12 or the second side 13 facing outward.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the first side 12 and the second side 13 may be respectively configured with decorated faces 12A and 13A with different colors, textures, shapes, or patterns. Of course, the decorated faces 12A and 13A may also be of a same color, texture, shape, or pattern.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the chape member 1 is composed of two symmetrical pieces flatly joined together with the frame 2 sandwiched in between. The two pieces may be joined by welding, adhesive, latches, screws, rivets, etc.

As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the frame 2 includes a linear section 21 and a C section 22, whose two ends are respectively joined to the two ends of the linear section 21, thereby forming a D shape. The linear section 21 is housed inside the hinge element 11. The hinge element 11 has an opening 111 in a middle section. An end of the prong 3 is connected to the linear section 21 through the opening 111. As shown in FIGS. 2 to 5, the C section of the frame 2 has two neighboring notches 221 and 222 in a middle section respectively corresponding to the first and second sides 12 and 13.

As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the prong 3 includes a hinge end 31 and a free end 32. The hinge end 31 is pivotally joined to the linear section 21, so that the prong 3 may swivel relatively to the linear section 21. The free end 32 is for embedment into the notch 221 or 222 after the prong 3 runs through a hole of the strap 5. The prong 3 may be detached from and again joined to the linear section 21, so that the prong 3 may be adjusted depending which side of the double-side belt buckle is used as the outward facing side.

As shown in FIGS. 1 to 5, the loop element 4 maintains the position of the strap 5 after the strap 5 has run through the loop element 4. Two slots 41 are symmetrically configured along an inner wall of the ring-shaped loop element 4, which one is along an upper lateral section and one is at a lower lateral section. As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the first side 12 and the second side 13 have troughs 121 and 131, respectively, adjacent to the hinge element 11. The loop element 4 is detachably embedded in the trough 121 or 131.

Through the above described structure, the double-sided belt buckle provides the following functions.

1. As shown in FIG. 4, to use the first side 12 as the outward facing side, the loop element 4 has one of its vertical sections embedded into the trough 131 so that the loop element 4 is outward extended from the chape member 1. The prong 3 is then rotatably joined to the linear section 21. After the strap 5 runs through the frame 2 and the loop element 4, the prong 3 is threaded through a hole on the strap 5 and the free end 32 of the prong 3 is rested in the notch 221 of the frame 2.

2. As shown in FIG. 5, to use the second side 13 as the outward facing side, the loop element 4 has one of its vertical sections embedded into the trough 121 so that the loop element 4 is outward extended from the chape member 1. The prong 3 is then rotatably joined to the linear section 21. After the strap 5 runs through the frame 2 and the loop element 4, the prong 3 is threaded through a hole on the strap 5 and the free end 32 of the prong 3 is rested in the notch 222 of the frame 2

3. Furthermore, the first side 12 and the second side 13 of the chape member 1 may be designed to have different colors, styles, or textures, so that a user may reveal a different taste by using a specific side of the double-sided belt buckle. The frame 2 or the prong 3 may also be configured into having two styles matching the first or second side 12 or 13 used.

While certain novel features of this invention have been shown and described and are pointed out in the annexed claim, it is not intended to be limited to the details above, since it will be understood that various omissions, modifications, substitutions and changes in the forms and details of the device illustrated and in its operation can be made by those skilled in the art without departing in any way from the claims of the present invention. 

I claim:
 1. A double-sided belt buckle connected to an end of a strap of a belt, comprising a chape member, a frame, a prong, and a loop element, wherein the chape member comprises a hinge element, a first side, and a second side; the hinge element and the frame are pivotally joined together; the loop element is selectively joined to the first side or the second side of the chape member perpendicular to the hinge element; the frame has two neighboring notches along a front section of the frame, respectively corresponding to the first and second sides; and the prong is pivotally joined to the frame for running through a hole along another end of the strap.
 2. The double-sided belt buckle according to claim 1, wherein the chape member has a cubical shape.
 3. The double-sided belt buckle according to claim 1, wherein the frame comprises a linear section and a C section, whose two ends are respectively joined to the linear section's the two ends, thereby forming a closed shape; the linear section is housed inside the hinge element; the hinge element has an opening in a middle section of the hinge element; an end of the prong is connected to the linear section through the opening.
 4. The double-sided belt buckle according to claim 3, wherein the prong comprises a hinge end and a free end; the hinge end is pivotally joined to the linear section; and the free end is for embedment into one of the notches after the prong runs through a hole of the strap.
 5. The double-sided belt buckle according to claim 1, wherein the chape member comprises two symmetrical pieces flatly joined together.
 6. The double-sided belt buckle according to claim 1, wherein two slots are symmetrically configured along an inner wall of the loop element; one slot is along an upper lateral section of the inner wall; and another slot is at a lower lateral section of the inner wall.
 7. The double-sided belt buckle according to claim 1, wherein the first side and the second side of the chape member respectively comprise different decorated faces.
 8. The double-sided belt buckle according to claim 1, wherein the first side and the second side of the chape member respectively comprise identical decorated faces.
 9. The double-sided belt buckle according to claim 1, wherein the first side and the second side respectively have troughs adjacent to the hinge element; and the loop element is detachably embedded in one of the troughs for maintaining a position of the strap after the strap has run through the loop element. 